Brief Summary

If speed is your middle name and you love a thrill ride then this high-performance machine is a dream come true. According to Fountain the 42 Lightning holds the V-bottom world record at 140 mph.

Key Features

The 42 Lightning offers a fast ride with luxurious accommodations below. The cockpit features a good size sun pad, large aft bench seat for up to four, and two comfortable bolster seats that will lock both the driver and passenger in place. The helm is loaded with all the gauges and switches you’ll need, Gaffrig throttles and shifters, heavy-duty hydraulic trim tabs, and more. Down below the 42 features a V-berth forward, with a wraparound leather sofa and plenty of lighting. There’s an enclosed head with a porti-potti and sink with pressurized water system.

Specifications

Length Overall

42' 0''

Beam

8' 6''

Dry Weight

9,400 lbs.

Tested Weight

N/A

Draft

3' 4''

- Draft Up

N/A

- Draft Down

N/A

- Air Draft

N/A

Deadrise/Transom

24 deg.

Max Headroom

5'

Bridge Clearance

~

Weight Capacity

N/A

Person Capacity

N/A

Fuel Capacity

260 gal.

Water Capacity

13 gal.

Length on Trailer

N/A

Height on Trailer

N/A

Trailer Weight

N/A

Total Weight(Trailer, Boat, & Engine)

N/A

Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.

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Acceleration Times & Test Conditions

Time To Plane

4.3 sec.

0 to 30

7.0 sec.

Ratio

1.5:1

Props

19 1/2 x 22 stainless steel

Load

4 persons, 1/2 fuel, no water, min. gear

Climate

60 deg., 44% humid.; wind: 10 knots; seas: light chop

Powerful Tradition The 42 Lighting with diesel power was designed to maintain Fountain’s tradition of speed combined with luxury. However this year the company incorporated the safe and fuel-efficient diesel power plant

Share the Thrilling Ride Visibility from the helm is very good, and the low profile design of the boat gives close to 360% of visibility. Racing seats for driver and passenger, a smaller wheel backed, and a complete array of

Worthwhile Trade Off The forward cabin is well designed and shows good use of space. There is however low headroom and it’s narrow toward the front, but that’s the price you pay for the look and speed of a high-performanc

Satisfy Any Speed Demon All in all the 42 lighting diesel is a fast and luxurious high-performance boat, with a well laid out floor plan, combined with diesel power, and a long list of standard equipment.

Captain's Report

A World-Class Offshore Race BoatIf you’re in the market for the ultimate blend of performance, styling and bragging rights, then Fountain powerboats of North Carolina have something you should consider. The 42-foot Lightning currently holds the world speed record for v-bottom boats at an astonishing 140 plus miles per hour. Of course a full race rigged machine holds this record, however, you can get your hands on a recreational version of this boat and enjoy the experience of a world-class offshore race boat.It was a chilly morning on our test day; the temperature was hovering just above 50 degrees with a stiff wind of 10 to 15 knots. Perfect, for testing one of the longest and fastest sport boats that money can buy. Our test boat was powered by a pair of MerCruiser 550 horsepower supercharged EFI stern drives, also known as 575 Csi’s. The power plants are staggered to provide a low center of gravity and great access to perform maintenance. The people at Fountain pay great attention to detail, as the engine compartment is one of the most meticulously prepared bays that I have seen. Every component and sub-system was in a proper place and neatly secured and easily accessible. Pulling in and out of the dock, I found the Lightning quite easy to handle considering her overall length of 42 feet. Underway, I was pleased to find her maneuvering abilities to be nimble and responsive. Getting the 10,000 pound boat on plane was much easier than I expected, she popped out of the hole with little effort. Trim and tab adjustments were a breeze as we accelerated to a cheek flapping 86 mph. During our aggressive testing regiment, I could not help but feel that all this fiberglass felt more like a thirty-something boat, as she gave a sense of refinement and forgiveness that I have not found in other long speed machines. I must say that the line of sight over the bow is excellent. If all this good feeling is not enough for you, then go below deck to find a spacious cabin that accommodates you and guests for over night trips. Access to the cabin is through a three-piece companionway door, and although the headroom is good, a single sliding door would be more inviting to use. Below deck, an enclosed head with shower is located to starboard. To port is a small galley, which incorporates a self-draining cooler, sink and ample storage cabinets. Leather couches are on both the port and starboard sides, and a large V-berth finishes off the over night accommodations. I found this boat to be very user friendly for the driver, and also for friends and family. A beam width swim platform with a recessed folding ladder make going for a dip easy, and the transom shower will help get the salt off after your swim. The 42 Lightning is an exciting high performance boat that will get you to your destination with style and speed. She’s one boat that will keep everyone’s attention from the time she leaves the dock, up until the last roar of her engines. By Capt. Ron SvobodaTest Captain

Test Result Highlights

Best cruise for the Fountain 42 Lightning with 525-hp MerCruiser is 40.2 mph (64.7 kph), and the boat gets 1.06 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.45 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 248 miles (399.12 kilometers).